Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Tatsuki Morita is pioneering the fusion of soft robotics and smart materials, with a focused research agenda on developing intelligent, sensor-integrated end-effectors for robotic manipulation. His core contributions lie in transforming passive vacuum suction cups into active, force-sensing devices by directly coating their surfaces with functional polymers. In his most-cited work (38 citations), Morita introduced a bellows suction cup coated with a conductive thin-film polymer, PEDOT, enabling a robotic hand to detect applied forces through resistance changes. He further advanced this concept by exploring the formation of piezoelectric PVDF films on 3D bellows surfaces via dip-coating and lamination, demonstrating a dual-method feasibility for self-sensing grippers. These innovations address a critical gap in industrial and service robotics: the need for compact, compliant, and sensor-rich grasping tools without bulky external sensors. Morita’s work is notable for its practical, fabrication-focused approach, directly bridging material science and mechanical design. His research has significant implications for delicate object handling, human-robot interaction, and the broader field of soft robotics, establishing him as a key contributor to the next generation of tactile, adaptive robotic hands.